Cowiche Canyon Spring Hike - WA Wine Country Style!

Take in the beauty of wildflowers blooming in spring!

Explore a scenic canyon!

Savor wine tasting at a 100 year old farmhouse!

The Cowiche Canyon Trail originally was an old railroad spur which features 9 railroad trestle bridges. The entire Cowiche Canyon trail is a easy 2.9 family walk on a gravel trail along the Cowiche Creek with side trails bringing the total to 14 miles of trails in two locations with four trailheads.

The main trail is obvious, but there are also some side trails. After Bridge 8, there is a signed junction for the Uplands Trail taking you up to 360 degree views of Yakima and on a clear day, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams. Blooming spring flowers make this a great hike with over 200 species of red, yellow and purple native plants, wildflowers and interesting rock formations.

Alternatively you may start at the Tasting Room Yakima at the 1900's era farmhouse with a deck for outside picnicking and relaxing, families welcome. Featuring over 25 wines for tasting from 4 wineries, Wilridge, Naches Heights wines are among those featured. If you are bringing a picnic lunch, stop, at the Tasting Room Yakima your lunch will be refrigerated while you explore the canyon, afterwards and you can savor wine tasting, relax and enjoy your meal. Wilridge Winery Trail is a half-mile long side trail connecting the winery on Naches Heights with the Cowiche Canyon Trail. You will walk past Winemaker Paul Beveridges’ organic vineyard, where he uses a biodynamic approach to growing a number of different grape varieties.

Wilridge Winery Trail is the small trail going up the hill.

Directions to the Tasting Room Yakima: From I-82 West or East. Exit Hwy 12 West (Naches/White Pass) Exit Fruitvale / N. 40th Ave. Right at W. Powerhouse Rd. (2nd light) Left at Naches Heights Rd. Travel 2.5 miles, Left at Ehler Rd
Directions to Trailheads: You may also start at either end of the Cowiche Canyon trail and take the side trail up to the winery. The Canyon Trail is accessible from the Scenic drive parking lot via the Uplands Trail, the Wiekel Road parking lot located west of the trail, or from the east via Cowiche Canyon Road (very limited parking). From Yakima travel west on Summitview Avenue about ten miles to Wiekel Road. Turn right on Wiekel Road; follow the signs to the Wiekel Road parking lot.

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The Perfect Day Challenge

The "Perfect Day Challenge" in the Yakima Valley in September involves wild, whitewater action, wine tasting, a great dinner, and late night entertainment. This is only for those able to stand the fierce action and non-stop fun.



Start your day in the early morning on the Tieton River by running the Class III rapids. This is a trip of a lifetime, whitewater rafting down the river during the annual "Flip Flop!" You will experience the warmest white water rapids in the Pacific NW. The water has been warming up all summer in the Rimrock Lake to be released to irrigate the Yakima Valley only during the month of September. The morning trip down the river with Osprey Rafting is the way to go! As they say " It's 12 miles of foam eating fun." Your trip includes a great BBQ lunch afterward to view the pictures and share the experience!


Time for wine tasting! After your trip down the river, as you head back to Yakima, take the scenic route through orchards and farmland. Turn right at the first light in Naches(S. Naches Way) then right onto Naches Heights Road, follow to Ehler Road (map) to stop at The Tasting Room-Yakima . Four wineries offer tastings in a 100 year old farm house. Sit and relax on the porch, enjoy the wine, sunshine and view. Add a hike though the 85 acre vineyard down to the Cowiche Canyon Trail.

Time for a great dinner in downtown Yakima! The beautiful September weather and warm evenings are great for outside dining. Second Street Grill, Russillos, Santiogos all offer great downtown dining.
Locally owned restaurants offering fine dining are Gasperettis, Greystone, Apple Tree Grill, Zesta Cucina to name a few.

Live entertainment ends this perfect day! The SportsCenter Resturant & Lounge in Yakima offers live music on most weekend nights. The Seasons Performance Hall regularly features live music with an emphasis on Jazz. Downtown wineries, Gilbert Cellars, Tim's Tasting Room and Kana, offer wine tasting and live music most weekends.

The perfect day in the Yakima Valley - For those up for the challenge of extreme fun!


Any Questions?


Osprey- Rafting the Tieton
Blog-Whitewater Rafting The Flip Flop on the Tieton River
Yakima Valley Live Music listing

Updated 1.5.11